Mother of the Dragon——Reading the Dragon Mother Temple in Deqing (2)

The 231st Guangzhou Reading Club: Read the Deqing Dragon Mother Temple

(2) The Dragon Mother

Many people say the location of the Dragon Mother Temple The place is a geomantic treasure land, surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the Xijiang River. It is quite similar to the blessed land of Cave in Taoism. In the legend of the Dragon Mother, there is indeed a story about a treasure land. One day, a man named Lai Buyi saw this treasure land and cast a spell to occupy it with copper coins. Then, the Dragon Mother inserted a thin needle into the copper coin's eye, breaking the trick. Then, Lai Buyi wanted to compete with Dragon Mother by throwing their iron crutches and bamboo bullwhips into the river to see whose one would sink first. Because the dragon son in the river helped the dragon mother, the dragon mother came first again. Lai Buyi, who was defeated twice, was very angry and decided to move the stones from Kunlun Mountain to the Xijiang River and block the river mouth, killing Long Mu. Just when Lai Buyi was about to submit, the Mother of Dragons asked one of the dragons to imitate the crow of a rooster. When the rooster crows together, Lai Buyi's trick is broken again. Later, after the Dragon Mother ascended to heaven, Lai Buyi corrected his evil ways and settled in the Dragon Mother's temple, serving the Dragon Mother every day. Although this is a story about a battle of powers, it also symbolizes that the Dragon Mother not only has magical power, but also can subdue people's hearts.

When I first saw the name Lai Buyi, I couldn't help but think of the Lai Tou monk in "The Mantra of Western Xia". What he took was not the treasure land, but the golden dome of the temple. The golden dome on the Great Buddha Temple is very important to the people of Liangzhou. It is said that as long as the golden dome is there, Liangzhou will not fall into war and people will not fall into misery. At first, people thought that Xue Yu'er had stolen the Golden Summit, because only people with excellent qinggong skills could do this. In order to clear her name, Xue Yu'er broke Laitou Monk's hamstrings one night and captured him. The book says that Laitou Monk is actually Xue Yu'er's senior brother. He was expelled from the school due to his bad character, so he is also very capable. No one can catch him except Xue Yu'er. Unlike Lai Buyi, Laitouseng did not turn around and chose to continue to hate and curse. I often think that if it hadn't been for the curse of the deadbeat monk, Xue Yuer might not have suffered so much. However, Xue Yu'er is Xue Yu'er. She will never complain about others, nor will she lose her dignity, personality, and conscience in the face of a bad situation, even if her leg is broken. There are many book friends who like Xue Yuer as much as I do, and even regard her as a goddess-like existence, or a mirror. Xue Yuer in the book is very empty, like a ball of air, which can surge in the book and in people's hearts. In fact, many legends about the Mother of Dragons are also false. They were created by people of different eras and with the hearts of different eras over more than two thousand years. However, no matter how people shape them, their essence will never change - human beings' pursuit of true love and desire for goodness and beauty.

Mother of Dragons, this name sounds more affectionate than the names of other gods, because everyone has a mother, and everyone has experienced selfless love from their mother. I remember many years ago, when Master Xinyin was about to pass away, she always asked her mother to accompany her and would not let her leave her hut. That scene left a deep impression on me, and it was only then that I realized what a mother means to a child. A few years later, my mother also left. After that, my body and mind were like being in a desert, empty in front of me and empty in the back. Even if I still have family, I can never make up for the lack of my mother. When the Dragon Mother is not just the mother of the dragon, but the mother of the common people, she has a higher sense of existence value. She loves and protects not only her children, but also one person, and one person also needs a mother with perfect personality. She can listen to the voice and save the suffering, can treat others equally, and can fulfill their wishes, just like people need Guanyin Bodhisattva. When we mention Guanyin Bodhisattva, what always comes to our hearts is her infinite tolerance, acceptance, love and redemption for the world. In fact, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva does not have a fixed image. This is clearly stated in the Surangama Sutra. She will transform into whatever image the sentient beings need, teach them the Dharma, and free them from suffering. However, what we prefer is the female body, just as a child needs its mother.

I respect all mothers in the world, and even more admire mothers who love more lives after sublimating their little love. I think Dragon Mother must also have a process of letting go, a story of sublimation, but people worship and pray in front of the Taihu Hall, ignoring the spirit of Dragon Mother. Without this spirit, people would not shed tears inexplicably in front of Dragon Mother’s grave. What can move people must be true love. Dragon Mother's Tomb gives me a very special feeling. It is cool, quiet, indifferent, but also positive.

It was her motivation that made the Dragon Mother, and it was also her motivation that made countless saints. Moxin is the most essence of traditional Chinese culture, and it is also the most authentic patron saint of all those who yearn for it.